
Great finish by William finishing his Gravel Frame. What do you think?
William took a risk with colour, and it paid off completely. That turquoise on the lugs isn't subtle — it's a statement. And against the natural golden bamboo, it absolutely sings.
This is a gravel frame in its raw glory, before wheels and components complicate the view. The geometry shows all the hallmarks of off-road capability: clearance in the chainstays for wide tyres, dropped seatstays for mud evacuation, multiple mounting points on the fork for bottle cages or cargo.
The colour choice here is teal — somewhere between blue and green, shifting depending on the light. It covers every lug point: head tube, bottom bracket, seat cluster, dropouts. The consistency makes the natural bamboo sections feel intentional rather than unfinished.
Look at those chainstays. The horizontal dropout design allows for belt drive compatibility if William decides to go maintenance-free. The disc brake mount positions are neat and precise. This is a frame built with future possibilities in mind.
The stone wall backdrop adds gravitas. Lichen-spotted rocks, dead bracken from winter — it feels like the bike already belongs in wild places.
What makes painted lugs work is confidence. A tentative touch of colour can look like a mistake. But when you commit — saturated, bold, consistent — it reads as design rather than decoration. William clearly understood this.
Next step: component spec. Given this frame's personality, we'd expect something equally considered. Maybe tan sidewalls to warm up the cool teal, or a matching bar tape accent to tie it together.
Can't wait to see it built up. Stunning frame, William. 🎋
